Buthraupis montana
The Hooded Mountain Tanager, *Buthraupis montana*, is a striking, large-bodied passerine native to the humid montane forests of the Andes. Measuring approximately 21-24 cm (8.3-9.4 in) in length and weighing 55-80g (1.9-2.8 oz), its robust build and vivid coloration make it easily identifiable. Adults display a distinctive glossy black hood covering the head, throat, and upper breast, contrasting sharply with a bright golden-yellow to orange-yellow lower breast and belly. The back and wings a...
Exclusively found in humid subtropical and tropical montane cloud forests and forest edges, typically at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 meters (5,900-9,800 feet). It prefers areas with dense undergrowth and abundant epiphytes.
Primarily omnivorous, consuming a balanced diet of small arthropods, insects (gleaned from leaves and bark), and a wide variety of fruits and berries, especially those rich in sugar.
The Hooded Mountain Tanager is a diurnal and highly social species, frequently observed foraging in active mixed-species flocks composed of other tanagers, warblers, and often larger bird species. They move deliberately through the mid-story and sub-canopy, gleaning insects from foliage and branc...
The Hooded Mountain Tanager is a resident species distributed extensively along the Andes mountain range in South America. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends from the extreme northwestern Táchira state of Venezuela, south through the Central and Eastern Andes of Colombia, and conti...
Least Concern
- The genus name *Buthraupis* comes from Ancient Greek, meaning "large tanager," accurately reflecting its robust size compared to many smaller tanager species. - It is a cornerstone species in Andean mixed-species foraging flocks, often acting as a 'nuclear species' that other birds follow. - De...